On Wednesday 30th March our current and upcoming GCSE Dance students together with a small number of our younger dancers, attended an exquisite evening of Dance from James Cousins Company at The Point in Eastleigh.
The anchor event was the screening of ‘Within Her Eyes’, a 15 minute dance film choreographed by James Cousins which forms part of the AQA GCSE Dance syllabus. It was an excellent opportunity for those so close to their summer exams to engage directly with the choreographer and to listen to his explanation and interpretations of the piece. For those looking forward to studying it next year it was a fantastic insight into one of the highlights of their future course.
The film reveals a couple whose interdependent relationship defines them. Not once during the whole dance do the woman’s feet touch the ground as the series of lifts and balances translate from a grassy moorland to dappled woodland and back as night falls. The strikingly original piece grows ever more intense as it progresses with the audience’s access to the couple’s emotional intimacy increasing through the camera angles and lighting before the inconclusive ending fades to black.
The audience were able to ask questions, including one from our very own Isi (Year 10), probing aspects of the work and learned much about the production process and the difficulties implicit in filming dance outdoors in the Brecon Beacons.
The screening and discussion were supplemented by some phenomenal performances by Hampshire Youth Dance Company, a group of young dancers selected and managed by one of our visiting Dance instructors, Tori East, and by the University of Chichester’s performance troupe, MapDance.
“Being able to see such an amazing range of performances from people our own age was so inspiring because showed where dance can take us, what it can teach us, and how the opportunities you have to perform can make a real, emotional impact on the audience.” reflected Livi (Year 9). Charlotte (Year 10) added, “I really enjoyed watching the variety of dances performed by a range of ages, and also the Q&A at the very end.”
“I think it really inspired them to see dancers so close to their own age performing in such an accomplished way,” commented Beth Butler, Dance teacher and trip organiser, “It is also very helpful for them to have access to performances like this for their GCSEs because it makes it so much more real than just studying back at school.”
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